Incongruence, a psychological mismatch between your self-perception and ideal self, can lead to emotional distress and hinder personal growth. Carl Rogers’ humanistic theory highlights how aligning these aspects is crucial for well-being. Key Takeaways What Is Incongruence? Incongruence, as defined by psychologist Carl Rogers, occurs when there’s a disparity between your perceived self and your…
Working memory is a form of memory that temporarily holds information that a person needs to perform immediate mental tasks. It involves actively processing and manipulating information to perform activities like comprehending information, solving problems, and making decisions. Working memory is an executive function that plays an important role in many cognitive processes. It allows…
Choice blindness is a psychological phenomenon in which people fail to notice a mismatch between their intended choice and the choice presented to them. In other words, it is a surprising tendency to be unaware that our choices and preferences have been changed or manipulated after we’ve already made a choice. This tendency suggests that…
Self-determination theory reveals the power of intrinsic motivation in driving human behavior. Discover how autonomy, competence, and relatedness shape our goals, choices, and overall well-being.
When rewards backfire: how external incentives can drain natural motivation and alter our relationship with things we once loved doing.
The primacy effect is a cognitive phenomenon in which people tend to remember and give more importance to the initial information presented in a series of items, whether it be a list of words, a sequence of events, or other forms of communication. This effect suggests that information presented at the beginning of a series…
Known for their calm demeanor and perfectionist tendencies, Type C personalities often struggle with stress in silence. Learn how this personality type impacts behavior and health, and what it means for personal well-being
Short-term memory (STM) is a type of memory that can hold a small amount of information for a limited period of time. The duration and capacity of short-term memory is quite limited, holding between five to nine pieces of information for around 20 to 30 seconds. You’ve probably experienced these limitations yourself many times. Consider…
Sigmund Freud was the famed (and controversial) psychoanalyst who introduced concepts like the Oedipus complex, the ego, the unconscious, and dream interpretation. He was also a prolific writer, publishing literally hundreds of books, essays, and articles during his lifetime. Sigmund Freud’s words on human nature continue to resonate today and offer a glimpse at his…
Ego strength plays a crucial role in how we cope with life’s challenges. Learn how this psychological concept impacts resilience, self-control, and our ability to navigate stress.
The self-serving bias involves taking credit for our success but blaming others for our failures. It’s why we might boast about our talents and hard work when things go our way but focus on external, situational factors when we don’t live up to expectations. For example, it’s why you might attribute your good score on…
The ingroup bias, also known as in-group favoritism, is the tendency of people to favor their own group above that of others. It causes people to give preferences and privileges to members of their own group while often excluding those from other groups. This bias can have a powerful influence on both individual and group…
Latent learning shows how we pick up knowledge without even realizing it—until the right moment comes. Explore how this hidden skill shapes behavior and problem-solving.
Incentive theory of motivation suggests that people are motivated by a need to obtain rewards or reinforcements. Rooted in behaviorism, this theory suggests that motivation arises from the desire to obtain rewards and avoid punishments. Incentive theory is just one of many theories psychologists have proposed to explain human motivation. Understanding this theory can give…
Transformational leadership is a leadership style where leaders inspire and motivate their followers to exceed their own self-interests for the good of the organization or a greater cause. This approach involves creating a vision, fostering an environment of trust and collaboration, and encouraging personal and professional growth. Key transformational leadership characteristics that help these leaders…
When you are trying to solve a problem or make a decision, you don’t always have time to examine every possible answer or possibility. Sometimes, you have to rely on the information you already have to make the best guess or estimate in a limited amount of time. This is an example of using heuristics,…
Assimilation in psychology explains how we integrate new experiences into existing frameworks, shaping how we learn, adapt, and view the world around us.
A case study is a research method used in psychology to investigate a particular individual, group, or situation in depth. It involves a detailed analysis of the subject, gathering information from various sources such as interviews, observations, and documents. In a case study, researchers aim to understand the complexities and nuances of the subject under…
As human beings, we rely on communication to express our thoughts, feelings, and intentions. Verbal communication, in particular, involves using words to convey a message to another person. It is a fundamental aspect of human interaction and is crucial in our daily lives and relationships. In this article, we will explore the importance of verbal…
The cohort effect refers to the influence of a person’s generation or birth cohort on their attitudes, beliefs, behaviors, and life experiences. Cohorts are groups of individuals who share a common historical or social context, such as those born in the same time period, raised in the same cultural environment, or experienced a similar event…
